Yarn carrier



F b. 18, 1947. F UST L 2,416,167

YARNv CARRIER J Filed March 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

ERNEST A. P505151.

Feb. lg, 1947. "E, us L 2,416,167

YARN CARRIER Filed March 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 l, ,1 if

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ERNEST A. FEUSTcL Patented Feb. 18, 1947 YARN CARRIER Ernest A. Feustel, Hasbrouck Heights, N. J., assignor to Ernest A. Feustel, Inc, East Rutherford, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 18, 1944, Serial No. 527,089

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the guiding of yarns to needles, spools, cones and the like and it relates to the guiding of such thread along paths other than a straight line and it relates more particularly to yarn-carriers for full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines or for other knitting machines or the like, wherein relatively fine and delicate threads or filaments must be paid out at relatively high linear speeds, and wherein a plurality-of yarn-carriers must work in small spaces with relatively small clearances.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more eificient yarn carrier and one which will guide the thread with a minimum of friction and wear. Another object of the present invention is to provide a yarn carrier having more efi'icient replaceable yarn-guiding means at the upper end or base thereof, and to provide more effective apron plate and other devices or parts to -be associated with yarn-carriers.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

In full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines, it has been the practice to provide yarn carriers'or yarn-guiding fingers with small, fine-bore tubes at the delivery ends thereof through which the thread passes and is paid out across the needle bank in front of the sinkers, as shown, for example. in'my Patent No. 2,126,249, issued August 9, 1938. r In constructions heretofore employed, 'it'has been conventional to provide eyescat the upper end of the yarn carrier to guide the thread before it reaches the tube at the delivery or pay-out end of the carrier.

'These conventional constructions, however,

have not been entirely satisfactory since they cause fraying and undue wear of the thread and since wearing out of conventional upper-yarn guiding eyes or the like has entailed either considerable repair work or, indeed, replacement of the entire yarn carrier.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplatesthe provision of certain new and improved yarn-guiding means at the upper end of the yarn carrier which will more efiiciently guide the yarn or thread along the angled path required and which will permit the yarn-guiding means to be quickly and easily replaced when such replacement is required due to wear or other factors More specifically, the present invention contemplates means whereby one or more yarn guide 2 tubes can be detachably mounted at the upper end ofthe yarn carrier so as more efficiently to guide the thread or yarn passing therealong to the pay-out tube at the delivery end of the yarn carrier. 1

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred,

since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations ofthe instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

- Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout: i

Figure lrepresents a perspective view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, of one embodiment ofthe presentinvention.

Figure 2 represents a fragmentary perspective view generally similar to that of Figure 1 but showing another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary perspective view-generally similar to that of Figure 2 but showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 represents a cross-sectional View, on a further enlarged scale, generally along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a cross-sectional view on a further enlarged scale generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.- Figure 6 represents a cross-sectional view generally similar to that of Figure 4 but showing a preliminary stage in the formation of the structure. v

Figure 7 represents a cross-sectional view generally similar to that of Figure 6 but showing the appearance of the parts in'an intermediate stage of construction. j V

Figure 8 represents a cross-sectional view generally similar to that of Figures 6 and '7 but showing the appearance of the parts after the con struction has been completed but before the yarnguide tube of Figure 4 has been inserted.

Figure 9 represents a cross-sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, generally along the line 9-9 of Figure 1. Figure 10 represents a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, generally along the line l(!l 9 lfi eu e 1- base plate 20.

Figure 11 represents a cross-sectional view, on

Figure 12 represents a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, partly in elevation and partly in "cross-section of a modified form of yarn guide tube which may be used in place of the rear tube 39 of Figure 1. r

In one embodiment of the present invention shown generally in Figures 1, 4. 9 and 10. Imay provide'a yarn carrier base plate of metal or other suitable material to which an elongated yarn guide finger 2| of metal or other suitable material is adiustably connected.

' The base plate 20 is removably mounted upon a sup orting bar 22 by a pair of screw threaded bolts 23.

The base plate 29 is provided with a transversely-extending fold-zone zd so that the forward portion 25 thereof is inclined slightly upwardly relative to the rearward portion 26 thereof.,

The forwardend of the base plate 29-is pro- 1 vided with a pair of generally parallel longitudi nally-extending slots 21.

A transversely-extending yoke-plate 28 of metal .or other suitable material is disposed on 1 top of the slotted forward end of said base plate w 23 and isprovided with a pair of openings 29' 3 which are in registration with the slots 21.

The yarn guide finger 2i has an integrallyformed transversely-enlarged.rear end 30 which is adapted to be positioned underneath the slotted forward end of said base plate 20. The rear end3'9' of the finger 2| is provided with a pair of screw-threaded openings 3! which are in registrationwith the slots Zl and the openings 29,

A pairof screw-threaded bolts 32 are adapted I to pass through the openings 29 and the slots 21 andtoengage within the screw-threaded openings 2iv thereby to connect the finger 2| to the It is apparent that, by loosening (the bolts 32 moving within the slots 21) so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of the finger 2 l. The iingerzlis bent generally along the zone 33 sqmewhat above the pay-out end thereof and is slotted to provide a central grooved tongue 34 and a pair of: gripping jaws 35 which are adapted to gripe downwardly-tapered yarn guide delivery tube 36 as shown in my Patent No. 2,289,256, issued July '7 1942. 7

In order more efficiently to guide the thread or yarn 31 along the inclined portions 25 and 26 of the base plate 25, I may provide yarn guide tubes 38 and 39 which extend longitudinally along said portions 25 and 23' respectively.

The rearmost yarn guide tube 39 is adapted,

removably to be mounted upon the portion 26 of said base plate 2!! adjacent the upper face thereof by means of transversely-extending bridging portions which are struck out of the base plate 20 as will be hereinafter described,

' Informing the tube-holding bridging portions,

,face of the portion 26 while alternate strips 43 are forced upwardly beyond the upper surface of I the portion 26. r V

Generally semi-circular grooves 44' are then the bolts 32, the yoke plate 28 and the rear end 30 can be moved longitudinally relative to the base plate 20 of the grooves 44 can be formed in a single operation and that all the grooves 45 can be formed.

in a single operation. I

After the grooves 44 and 45 have been formed, the strips 43 are pressed downwardly to more or less their original plane position, while the strips 42 are pressed upwardly beyond the upper surface of the portion 26, as shown in Figure 8. In this final position, the grooves 44 and 45 face each other as shown in Figure 8 and are adapted removably to receive the tubular yarn guide tube 39 which has an outside curvature corresponding generally to the cross-section of the grooves 44 and 45.

Similar grooved strips 42 and 43 are formed at the forward end of the portion 26 of the base plate 23 generally adjacent the fold-zone 24 of said base plate.

An elongated longitudinal opening 46 is formed in the portion 25 between the front and rear groups of bridging strips 42 and 43;

The yarn guide tube 39 is positioned intermediate the strips 42 and 43 by inserting it therebetween from the rear end of the base plate 20.

As can be seen particularly in Figures 1 and 9, the yarn guide tube 39 extends from somewhat beyond the rear end of the base plate 20 to generally the fold-zone 24 thereof.

An elongated longitudinal opening 41 is formed along the forward portion 25 of the base plate 20 and extends generally from the fold-zone 24 to a point short of the forward edge of said portion 25; the opening 41 extending intermediate the slots 2'! of said portion 25.

Upper and lower grooved bridging strips 48 and grooved bridging strips 48 and 49 are'adapted removably to hold the yarn-guide tube 38 in generally the same manner as described hereinabove in connection with the yarn-guide tube 39.

As canbe' seen particularly'in Figures 1 and 9, the yarn or thread 31 coming off the spool (not shown) enters the rear end of the yarn-guide tube 39; an obtuse angle being formed between the generally vertical path of the thread before entry into the yarn-guide tube 39 and the inclined path of the yarn inside the tube 39.

V The thread or yarn 31 emerges from the forward end of the yarn-guide tube 39 and enters the rear end of the yarn-guide tube 38 as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 9; its path being 7 tube 38 generally parallel to the yarn-guide finger 2 i, and passes along said finger 2i andwithin the groove of the tongue 34 over the bend Zone33 and passes through the delivery or pay-out tube 33 from which it is paid out across the needle 7 bank (not shown) in conventional manner.

Due to the angle made by the thread or yarn 3'! in entering the rearmost yarn-guide tube 39', an appreciable amount of wear results at the rear end of said tube 39. Accordingly, it is necessary from time to time to replace'the yarn-guidetube 39. Thiscan' bedene quickly and easily by simply gripping: the rearmost end of said tube 33with any-suitable pp g tool and pulling it- 'out'from between the grooved bridging portions. 'A new yarn-guide tube can then be inserted as described hereinabove by simply passing it between bridging strips 42 and 43 from the rear end of the base plate 20.

The yarn-guide tube 38 receives considerably less wear than the rear tube-39 and, therefore, has a much longer life. If and when it becomes necessary to replace the tube 38, this can be done by gripping the forward end of said tube and pulling it out from between the bridging strips 48 and 49. A new yarn-guide tube can then' be inserted from the front end of the yoke-plate 28.

In Figures 2 and 11, I have shown a modified form of the present invention in which thevyokeplate 28 of Figure 1 is omitted and, instead, the bolts 32 are provided with washers 50 to hold the finger 2| to the slotted forward end of the base plate 20---a.

The yarn-guide tube 38 (instead of being supported intermediate the bridging strips of the yoke-plate as in Figure 1) is removably positioned intermediate bridging strips 42-a and 43-11 formed intermediate the slots 2'! of the forward portion 25-a of the base'pl'ate 20-a; the bridging strips '42a and 43a being generally similar to the bridging strips 42 and 43 holding the rear yarn-guide tube 39.

sun another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 3 and 5.

The embodiment of Figures 3 and 5 generally resembles the embodiment of Figure 1 except that (in place of the bridging strips 42 and 43 and 48 and 4-9) a pair of juxtaposed ears 5| are struck out from the rearward portion 26-b of the base plate 20-h generally intermediate the bolts 23; the ears 5| extending upwardly from said portion 23-h so as to permit the insertion therebetween of the tube 39 as shown in Figure 5.

Similar ears 52 are struck out from the yokeplate 28b and extend upwardly therefrom; the ears 52 being adapted removably to receive and hold the yarn-guide tube 38.

It is evident that the rear yarn guide tube 39 changes the path of travel of the thread or yarn 31 from a generally vertical path as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 to a somewhat inclined path and that the front yarn guide tube 38 again changes the path of travel of the thread or yarn 31 to a further inclined path generally paralleling the yarn guide finger 2!. Thus, the thread or yarn 3'! is guided accurately and with a min! imum of friction and Wear along the path which it must travel in order to be fed to the needle bank.

In Figure 12 I have shown a modified form of rear yarn guide tube 39-11. The front portion of the yarn guide tube 39a generally resembles the tube 39 described hereinabove. However, the rear end of the tube 39a is bent upwardly as at 53 and has its uppermost tip flared as at 54. This modified form of rear yarn-guide tube is more eificient in changing the path of travel of the thread or yarn 31 and further reduces the friction and wear resulting from said change.

Where finer gauge thread or yarn must be used, the tubes 38, 39 and 39a can be given smaller inside diameters by simply increasing the wall thickness thereof; the outside diameters being maintained the same so that all tubes are interchangeable and can fit within the bridging strips or ears of the base plate and/or yoke plate,

The present invention also contemplates the provision of two or more spaced pairs ofears 51 (instead of the single pair of ears 5! shown 2 by replacing front and rear groups of bridging strips Hand 43 by pairs of opposed ears 5| (forv holding the tube 39), and by replacing the bridging strips 42-a and43-a by one or more pairs of similar opposed ears for holding the tube 38.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what -I hereby claim as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A yarn carrier including a finger, a base having a generally plane rear portion and a generally plane front portion tilted relative to said rear'portion, means formed integrally with said rear portion for removably mounting a thin elongated quick attachable and detachable replaceable yarn guide tube generally parallel to said rear portion, and means for removably mounting a second thin elongated quick attachable and detachable replaceable yarn guide tube generally parallel to said front portion, said first-mentioned tube being generally co-extensive with said rear portion and having its front end disposed generally in line with the bend-zone separating said front and rear portions.

2. A yarn carrier including a finger, a base having a generally plane rear portion and a generally plane front portion tilted relative to said rear portion, means formed integrally with said rear portion for removably mounting a thin elongated quick attachable and detachable replaceable yarn guide tube on said rear portion, and means formed integrally with said front portion for removably mounting a second thin elongated quick attachable and detachable replaceable yarn guide tube on said front portion, said first-mentioned tube being generally co-extensive with said rear portion and having its front end disposed generally in line with the bend-zone separating said front and rear portions.

3. A yarn carrier comprising a base, a yarn guide finger, means including a yoke-plate'and a pair of transversely-spaced bolts for adjustably connecting said finger to the front end of said base, and means formed integrally with said yokeplate for removably holding a thin elongated quick attachable and detachable replaceable yarn guide tube generally parallel to the front end of said base, said holding means comprising a, plurality of spaced transversely-extending bridging strips adapted to overlie said tube.

4. A yarn carrier comprising a base, a yarn guide finger, means including a yoke-plate for adjustably connecting said finger to the front end of said base, means for removably mounting a yarn guide tube at the rear end of said base, and

means for removably mounting a thin elongated quick attachable and detachable yarn guide tube upon said yoke plate, said mounting means including a plurality of spaced transversely-extending bridging strips formed on said base and pass ing above said tube.

5. A yarn carrier including a base, a replaceable yarn guide tube adapted to be mounted at said base, and means comprising a plurality of spaced transversely-extending bridging strips formed in? tegrally withsaid base for removably holding said yarn guide tube.

6. A yarn 'carrierincluding a base, a. replaceable yarn guide tube adapted to be mounted at said base, and means comprising a plurality of transversely-extending bridging strips adapted removably to hold said yarn guide tube, said bridging strips passing alternately above and below said tube. I

. 7. A yarn carrier comprising a. base, a yarn guide finger, means including a yoke-plate for adjustably connecting said finger to the front end of said base, and means for removably mounting a replaceable yarn guide tube upon said yoke- ,platesaid means comprisinga, plurality of instruck out of said yoke-plate and extending upwe rdly therefrom and adapted to hold said tube 10 Number Name Date 2,025,383 Gastrich Dec. .24, 1935 2,076,751 Thierfelder Apr. 13, 1 937 2,076,929 Young Apr. 13,193? 2,092,619 Gastrich Sept. 7, 1937 15 2,126,249 Feustel Aug. 9, 1938 2,132,245 Boyle Oct. 4, 1938 2,143,485 'Janssen Jan. 10, 1939 2,162,107 Newton June 13, 1939 2,246,337 Anderson June 17, 1941 20 2,289,256 Feustel July 7, 1942 2,317,318 Weisbecker Apr. 20, 1943 2,347,801 Subin May 2, 1944 2,104,815 Richter et a1 Jan. 11, 1938 5 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 685,507 German Dec. 19, 1939 804,564 French 'Aug. 3, 1936 8 therebetween, said ears being disposed generally in transverse alignment with said bolts.

- 7 ERNEST A. FEUSTEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

. UNITED STATES PATENTS 

